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Gentle Giant Members Reunite To Unbox Unburied Treasure Limited Edition 30-Disc Box Set

Gentle Giant Members Reunite To Unbox Unburied Treasure Limited Edition 30-Disc Box Set
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Limited Edition 30-Disc Box Set Released December 6, 2019.
Gentle Giant
Madfish proudly present the ultimate box set of Gentle Giant music—Unburied Treasure. Highly regarded in the prog-rock world for the 12 albums they released between 1970 and 1980, this comprehensive set sees the band’s catalogue augmented by 15 new concert albums: seven never previously released, seven never previously officially released and one never previously released on CD. The 30-disc total also includes two posthumous live/outtake albums and a Blu-ray bonus disc. Also included are books, posters, replica promotional items and much more.

Unburied Treasure will be released on 6th December and is limited to 2000 copies.

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Gentle Giant members—Malcolm Mortimore, Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman & Gary Green—reunited to unbox the first-ever copy of Unburied Treasure in front of fans at the 20th anniversary of GORGG (Global On-Reflection Giant Gathering) in New Jersey, USA, October 2019.

Watch the band also reminisce over photos, albums, performances and memorabilia...



Giant emerged from the ashes of chart hitmakers Simon Dupree and the Big Sound to become standard-bearers of the Seventies progressive movement. Their career often paralleled Genesis, their neighbours in the record racks, but while they frequently fought shy of commerciality—largely due to their pop past—and paid the price in sales terms, their uncompromising attitude won them a strong following in continental Europe.

They also enjoyed cult status in the States. When Frank Zappa was asked in 1978 who he was currently listening to, he namechecked Queen and Gentle Giant. (Coincidentally, Roy Thomas Baker not only engineered Giant's earliest sessions but went on to produce the iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody”.)

Strictly limited to 2,000 copies, this lavishly presented collection is clad in Bob Venables' new artwork, based on the iconic sleeve created by illustrator and Bowie alumnus George Underwood for the band’s Vertigo label debut in 1970. That full album has been remixed for this release's Blu-ray disc by prolific rock musician Steven Wilson, whose reputation for remixing prog-rock classics in recent years is second to none. The remix is available in high resolution 96/24 Stereo LPCM, 96/24 5.1 surround LPCM and DTS-HD 5.1 surround mixes, and the instrumental mixes for every track are also included.

The foundation of the set is the dozen albums officially released during Gentle Giant's 11 years as a recording act – but, for all their studio skills, Giant's musical abilities were given freest rein on stage. Yet only one live album, 1977's double vinyl Playing The Fool, was issued in their lifetime, so fans will be in seventh heaven at the prospect of 15 unreleased sets. Covering almost every period of the band's existence, they allow the individual members' multi-instrumental abilities to be appreciated to their fullest extent.

Arrangements were changed and refined from tour to tour, including many segues and medleys, so these concert recordings offer year-by-year evidence of the band's progression. All the music, live and studio, has been remastered by Pete Reynolds, acclaimed for his work on the Wishbone Ash box of 2018.

The audio experience is enhanced by a magnificent 136-page coffee table book. This combines rare photographs and memorabilia with a painstakingly researched history by Alan Kinsman. A fan for 45 years, he has achieved the near impossible by interviewing all members of the band in depth, including Phil Shulman who left brothers Derek and Ray to pilot the band in 1973 after providing much of the initial impetus. The result is a must-read that will unlock many mysteries, clear up misunderstandings and finally give the music the context it deserves.

Also exclusive to this limited-edition set are:

A band photo signed by the classic line-up of Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, Gary Green, Kerry Minnear and John Weathers.

An exclusive 96-page tour history book compiled by Jack Skelly offering informed commentary on the live recordings, set lists, on-the-road memorabilia and more.

Two replica posters, one from Giant’s debut gig in 1970 and the other promoting 1974's classic The Power And The Glory album.

Replicas of album giveaway items: the Playing The Fool LP booklet (included with the initial pressing only) and the Giant For A Day mask.

A replica of the jigsaw used to promote the Missing Piece album.

The chance to win a reproduction of Giant's rarest ever piece of memorabilia—a screen-printed mirror produced to promote The Power And The Glory; only 100 were originally created. A golden 'missing piece' included at random in one box set may be traded in by the lucky winner for this coveted item.

For too long prog-rock's best-kept secret, Gentle Giant finally achieved wider recognition in 2015, upsetting the odds to scoop Prog magazine's coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. Two years later, their home city of Portsmouth honoured their achievements both as a band and individually by inducting them into the Hall of Fame at the Guildhall; Derek went on to become a leading record-business figure, Ray a noted producer. Unburied Treasure is further recognition that this was a band ahead of its time, and one whose unwillingness to compromise has ultimately enhanced its legacy.

“Giant always set out to have a good time and to make sure the audience had a good time,” says drummer John Weathers. “We'd always go on and see if we could play better than we did the night before. I can't wait to see this definitive box set.”

Derek Shulman would “like Gentle Giant to be remembered as a group with integrity. It wasn't done for any other reason than simply being together playing music and challenging ourselves to be better. We hated compromise, and we had a lot of integrity in terms of what the music was about.”

For fans of quality progressive rock, Unburied Treasure is the motherlode.

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Track Listing

CD1 (Gentle Giant): Giant; Funny Ways; Alucard; Isn’t It Quiet And Cold?; Nothing At All; Why Not?; The Queen.


CD2: Acquiring The Taste: Pantagruel's Nativity; Edge Of Twilight: The House, The Street, The Room; Acquiring The Taste; Wreck; The Moon Is Down; Black Cat; Plain Truth.
CD3 (Three Friends): Prologue; Schooldays; Working All Day; Peel The Paint; Mister Class And Quality?; Three Friends.
CD4 (Octopus): The Advent Of Panurge; Raconteur, Troubadour; A Cry For Everyone; Knots; The Boys In The Band; Dog's Life; Think Of Me With Kindness; River.
CD5 (In A Glass House): The Runaway; An Inmate's Lullaby; Way Of Life; Experience; A Reunion; In A Glass House.
CD6 (The Power And The Glory): Proclamation; So Sincere; Aspirations; Playing The Game; Cogs In Cogs; No God's A Man; The Face; Valedictory; The Power And The Glory (bonus track, single).
CD7 (Free Hand): Just The Same; On Reflection; Free Hand; Time To Kill; His Last Voyage; Talybont; Mobile.
CD8 (In’terview): Interview; Give It Back; Design; Another Show; Empty City; Timing; I Lost My Head.
CD9 (Playing The Fool): Just The Same/Proclamation; On Reflection; Excerpts From Octopus; Funny Ways; The Runaway/Experience; So Sincere; Free Hand; Sweet Georgia Brown; Peel The Paint/I Lost My Head.
CD10 (The Missing Piece): Two Weeks In Spain; I'm Turning Around; Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It; Who Do You Think You Are?; Mountain Time; As Old As You're Young; Memories Of Old Days; Winning; For Nobody.
CD11 (Giant For A Day!): Words From The Wise; Thank You; Giant For A Day; Spookie Boogie; Take Me; Little Brown Bag; Friends; No Stranger; It's Only Goodbye; Rock Climber.
CD12 (Civilian): Convenience (Clean And Easy); All Through The Night; Shadows On The Street; Number One; Underground; I Am Camera; Inside Out; It's Not Imagination; Heroes (bonus).
CD13 (Winchester 1971, Audience Recording,February 12, 1971): Giant; Hometown Special; City Hermit; Funny Ways; Plain Truth; Alucard; Isn't It Quiet And Cold?; Why Not?; The Queen; Peel Off The Paint.
CD14 (Essen 1972, Audience Recording, January 21, 1972): Alucard; Funny Ways; Nothing At All (with Malcolm Mortimore drum solo); Plain Truth; The Queen.
CD15 (New Orleans 1972/BBC Session 1972, September 8, 1972/August 8, 1972): Prologue; Alucard; Funny Ways; Nothing At All; Funny Ways; Plain Truth; The Advent Of Panurge.
CD16 (Hollywood Bowl 1972, Audience Recording, September 15, 1972): Prologue; Alucard; Funny Ways; Nothing At All/Plain Truth.
CD17 (Vicenza 1973, Audience Recording, January 5, 1973): Prologue; Alucard; Funny Ways; The Advent Of Panurge; Nothing At All; Plain Truth.
CD18 (Torino 1973, October 19, 1973): The Runaway; Way Of Life; Funny Ways; Excerpts From Octopus; Nothing At All; Plain Truth.
CD19 (Munster 1974, Audience Recording, April 5, 1974): The Runaway; Prologue; Funny Ways; Excerpts From Octopus; Nothing At All; Plain Truth; In A Glass House.
CD20 (St. Gallen 1974, Audience Recording, November 22, 1974): Cogs In Cogs; Proclamation; Funny Ways; The Runaway; Experience; Excerpts From Octopus; Nothing At All; Plain Truth.
CD21 (Cleveland 1975, January 27, 1975): Cogs In Cogs; Proclamation; Funny Ways; The Runaway; Experience; Excerpts From Octopus; So Sincere; Mister Class And Quality?.
CD22 (Basel 1975, Audience Recording, November 24, 1975): Cogs In Cogs; Proclamation; Funny Ways; The Runaway; Experience; Excerpts From Octopus; So Sincere; Plain Truth; Free Hand; Just The Same.
CD23 (Düsseldorf 1976, Part 1, September 23, 1976): Just The Same/Proclamation; On Reflection; Interview; The Runaway/Experience; So Sincere; Excerpts From Octopus; Funny Ways (snippet).
CD24 (Düsseldorf 1976, Part 2/Brussels 1976, September 23, 1976/October 7, 1976): Timing/Violin Solo; Free Hand; Peel The Paint/I Lost My Head; Timing/Violin Solo; Free Hand; Peel The Paint/I Lost My Head.
CD25 (Munich 1976, September 25, 1976): Just The Same/Proclamation; On Reflection; Interview; Excerpts From Octopus; Funny Ways.
CD26 (Paris 1976, October 5, 1976): The Runaway/Experience; So Sincere; Excerpts From Octopus; Funny Ways; Timing/Violin Solo; Free Hand; Peel The Paint/I Lost My Head.
CD27 (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977, January, 1977): The Runaway/Experience; As Old As You're Young; On Reflection; Just The Same/Playing The Game; Memories Of Old Days; Winning; For Nobody (part); Funny Ways; The Face/Plain Truth; So Sincere; Free Hand.
CD28 (Chester 1977, November 18, 1977): Two Weeks In Spain; Free Hand; On Reflection; I'm Turning Around; Just The Same/Playing The Game; Memories Of Old Days; Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It; The Face; For Nobody; Excerpts From Octopus (part 1); Excerpts From Octopus (part 2).
CD29 (The Roxy 1980, June 16, 1980): Convenience (Clean And Easy); All Through The Night; Free Hand; Knots; Playing The Game; Memories Of Old Days; Giant For A Day; Inside Out; It`s Not Imagination; Underground; 5 Man Drum Solo; Band Member Introductions; For Nobody; The Advent Of Panurge; Number One.
Blu Ray (Gentle Giant - Steven Wilson Stereo & Surround Remixes/Stereo Instrumental Mixes: Giant; Funny Ways; Alucard; Isn't It Quiet And Cold?; Nothing At All; Why Not?; The Queen.

Personnel

Gentle Giant
band / ensemble / orchestra
Kerry Minnear
keyboards
Ray Shulman
bass, electric
Tony Visconti
recorder
Gary Green
guitar
Additional Instrumentation

Derek Shulman: saxophones, recorder, clavichord, lead vocals, backing vocals, bass, cow bell, percussion; Ray Shulman: bass, violin, guitar, Spanish guitar, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, organ, bass pedals, percussion, viola, skulls, electric violin, trumpet, backing vocals; Phil Shulman: saxophones (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray), clarinet (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray), trumpet (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray), recorder (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray), piano (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray), lead vocals (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray); backing vocals (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray), percussion (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray), mellophone (CD1-4, CD13-18, Blu Ray); Kerry Minnear: organ, mellotron, vibraphone, moog, electric piano, harpsichord, celeste, clavichord, piano, bass, cello, tympani, xylophone, marimba, recorder, lead vocals (CD1-9, CD10-12), percussion, backing vocals; Gary Green: lead guitar, 12-string guitar, bass, donkey’s jawbone, cat calls, percussion, mandolin, recorder, vocals (CD9); Martin Smith: drums (CD1, CD13, Blu Ray), percussion (CD1- 2, CD13, Blu Ray); Claire Denis: cello (CD1#4, Blu Ray#4); Paul Cosh: tenor horn (CD1#1, Blu Ray#1), trumpet (CD2#3), organ (CD2#3); Tony Visconti: recorders (CD2#3, CD2#5), bass drum (CD2#7), triangle (CD2#7); Malcolm Mortimore: drums (CD3, CD14); John Weathers: drums (CD4-12, CD15-29), percussion (CD4-12, CD15-29), vocals (CD6-12, CD15-29), vibraphone (CD9), tambour (CD9).

Album information

Title: Unburied Treasure | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Madfish Music

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